Liberation Stationed

Together we’ve strategized our milestones to make their Juneteenth 2023 grand opening inevitable.

Milestones

• $500   | Reception Desk
• $1600 | Center Bookshelves & Seating
• $6500 | Shelving complete for 364 sq ft
• $9500 | Artwork Design-Mural, Branding & Merch
• ✨Dream Goal $20K✨| Grand opening Beyond Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams. A Complete Build-Out, Marketing, & Operating Expenses.

About Liberation Station Bookstore:

Liberation Station Bookstore is a Black-owned, family-led children’s bookstore with a mission to support Black literacy, legacy, and liberation. After years of popups and installments within other businesses, Liberation Station has grown to the point where they need and can sustain a permanent location.

Since 2019, they’ve held mobile pop-ups throughout the Triangle, NC, that have garnered national recognition with highlights on GMA, The Washington Post, CNN, Walter Magazine, and many more. 

Their vision was simple, provide a space for Black children to see themselves represented in literature. That vision began in the trunk of our car, hosting pop-ups and story times throughout the Triangle, which included their Black Lit Library; concept shops permanently housing Black and Diasporic narratives in spaces like The Durham Hotel and Sarah Duke Gardens.  They soon realized they didn’t need a lot of space to make an impact. Liberation Station was born – a niche bookstore with a historical impact.

Their Vision:

They have a unique vision for their 364 sq. ft. physical space at 208 Fayetteville St., Suite 201, Raleigh, NC. The bookstore will be divided into four intentionally curated sections.

1st Section

The Diaspora Wall will include books from authors & illustrators that follow the voyage of the Transatlantic Map. This will consist of rotating work from Sierra Leone, Angola, Brazil, and The West Indies, to name a few.

2nd Section

America will dive into the vastness of Black childhood from birth to 18. This will have books written and illustrated by Black creators, some published by Black-owned or Black-led publishing houses, small press, independent, and local authors.

3rd Section

AP African American Studies will include text by authors being removed from curriculums, such as “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin, “The Bluest Eye,” “Song of Solomon,” and “Beloved “by Toni Morrison, and many more. This section of rotating work will include recommendations from Black AP African American Study educators throughout the country.

4th Section

The Anchor will introduce a small curation of adult titles lovingly paired with children’s titles. For example, one may have “All About Love” by bell hooks paired with “Homemade Love,” or the “1619 Project” by Nicole Hannah-Jones paired with “Born on the Water” or “Twisted” by Emma Dabiri paired with “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut” by Derrick Barnes or “My Hair is a Garden” by Cozbi A. Cabrera. This section is an intergenerational conversation of what was and what is, it is the mirror we hold up to our mothers, grandmothers, fathers, grandfathers, and caregivers of how to empower ourselves along the way.

The Impact

Liberation Station will be a mirror for representation, inclusion, and accessible community resource. Our commitment is to highlight narratives that empower children to see themselves in their fullness.

They are a community-centered and led bookstore. YOU make all the difference.

Your investment will provide an opportunity for children of the diaspora to have direct access to their narratives and interact directly with historical artifacts in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

This tree (our bookstore) has nurtured thousands of children throughout the Triangle, and after four years, it is time to plant roots to continue growing the deeply intentional work that we know makes all the difference.

Hear from North Carolina Poet Laureate, Jaki Shelton Green on the importance of their work!

When do they open?

The grand opening is slated for Juneteenth Weekend 2023. They have a jam-packed calendar of events, including book signings by NY Times bestselling children’s book authors and illustrators, art exhibits, opportunities for children to interact with historical artifacts, and much more.

Other Ways You Can Help

• Get the word out!
• Share, Share, Share!
• Come visit during the grand opening!

Testimonies of Liberation Station’s Work

Hear about the impact of our work from Jaki Shelton Green, NC Poet Laureate.

Hear about the impact of our work from Virginia Lozuke, Head of School at Montessori Farm School.

Hear about the impact of our work from Kavanah Anderson, Director of Learning & Engagement at Duke Gardens.